COMPETITIVE

Check out Miranda Meyer's Official Website !
* Senior Canadian National Team Member * 2009 Senior Canadian National Beam Champion * Member of the Champions Gymnastics Club, Edmonton, CANADA
CLICK HERE TO VISIT

Miranda's Official Website !

Kristin Klarenbach
* Senior Canadian National Team Member * 2009 Senior Canadian National Floor Champion * Member of the Champions Gymnastics Club, Edmonton, CANADA
CLICK HERE TO SEE

Kristin's Arabian Double Front- 1/2 out on floor !

Edmonton, September 20, 2009

Kristin Klarenbach & Miranda Meyer/ 09-10 Senior Canadian National Team Members

Gymnastics Canada Gymnastique has recently announced that both Miranda Meyer and Kristin Klarenbach have received the status of Senior Canadian National team Members as of July 1, 2009. Furthermore, both Miranda and Kristin are now federally Carded athletes, which means that they are supported financially for their training by the Canadian Government. "Valerie and I are very proud of both Kristin and Miranda for what they achieved through their incredible hard work, dedication and commitment to their gymnastics training program. They both achieved this status based on their performances and on their competitive results.
Kristin came out of a disappointing Junior year last year and has revived her entire gymnastics career with incredible progress on all events, culminating in a 2nd place finish in Preliminaries, a 6th place in the AA competition and an incredible four-event qualification to Finals at the recent National Championships, ending with two medals and the title of Senior National Floor Champion.
Miranda's battle with OCD in both elbows has been well-documented and her unbelievable determination as she faced extremely severe pain in her right elbow at Nationals cannot be understated. Miranda's mental strength allowed her to compete three days at National Championships and to medal on three different events. She was the most decorated female gymnast at these Nationals, where she also won the title of Senior National Beam Champion.
These two athletes have their sights set on the 2010 World Championships (Rotterdam) , and of course in the longer term at the 2012 London Olympic Games. CLICK HERE TO SEE

Kristin's GOLD medal Floor routine

Champions Gymnastics Competitive Structure

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Split Training COMMITMENT & School SUCCESS

Parents make the necessary arrangements with their child's school and with their child's teacher(s). Our vast experience with this has clearly demonstrated that when all the adults that surround the student-athlete work together, the student-athlete succeeds in both her academic and athletic pursuits.
In an effort to help new parents understand the split training schedule, we have asked parents of some of our current athletes to provide us with testimonies as to their experiences with split training.

2008-2009 CHAMPIONS GYMNASTICS Developmental & Competitive Team
First row (Left to Right): Emma Brown, Charlotte Bignell, Kendra Korbut, McRae Dunbar, Chloe Palmer, Kreestel Lamoureux, Shannon Mah
Second row (Left to Right): Kira Hubler, Sydney Gallagher, Apollonia Pucci, Maya French, Kelly Hanasyk, Jaide Millington, Taylor Briere, Vienna Freeman-Lau, India Semchuk, Freya-Rose Berndt, Oc�ane Flaman
Third row (Left to Right): Jesse Campbell, Kennedy Sterenberg, Eyana Lamoureux, Tamar Smith, Amy Callaghan, Brittany Ekstedt, Shaena Bunce, Kristin Klarenbach, Miranda Meyer, Chloe Harrison, Laney O'Neill
Coaches (Left to Right): Sara Arsenault, Michel Arsenault, Terence Lowe, Val�rie Oudin-Arsenault

Introduction

Women's Developmental & Competitive Programs
Our Coaching Team is composed of FOUR FULL-TIME CAREER COACHES and our Developmental & Competitive Programs only have 40 spots available for the year 2009-2010 and the year 2010-2011 ! PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY:

* We believe that gymnastics should be a positive experience in children's lives and that through it, they may get to know more about themselves, about life in general and about the challenges that come with it.
* We believe that each gymnast is ultimately responsible for her success, involvement and progress in gymnastics.
* We believe in assisting each gymnast to reach her maximum potential, recognizing that only a selected few will ultimately have the capability to achieve the highest competitive levels.
Natasha Hallett/ 1992 Olympic Games/ Canadian Team member (alternate) * We believe that long-term emotional and physical development of a gymnast should not be jeopardized for short-term gain.
"Success is measured not so much by the position that one reaches in life, but by the obstacles that have been overcome while trying to succeed."
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FUNDRAISING ?......What FUNDRAISING ?

At CHAMPIONS GYMNASTICS, there is NO COMPULSORY FUNDRAISING !
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VIEWING POLICY/TRAINING

This policy applies ONLY to the Developmental (L.E.A.P.) and Competitive programs. It does not apply to the SuperGirls Program or to any of our recreational programs.

DEVELOPMENTAL: Parent Viewing is allowed on the first 10 days of each month and not allowed on the others.

COMPETITIVE: Parent Viewing is allowed on the first 7 days of each month and not allowed on the others.

TALENT EVALUATIONS

By appointment only (780-440-0014)/ Cost: $15.00
You can contact us at championsgymnastics@telus.net

Objectives of the Developmental & Competitive Programs

One of the goals of CHAMPIONS GYMNASTICS is to identify and develop future Canadian National Team Members for World Championships and Olympic Games.

�� Myahn Dang (1995)

As such, CHAMPIONS GYMNASTICS aims at detecting young talented girls who demonstrate above-average pre-dispositions, ability and drive to pursue excellence in competitive women's gymnastics.

ELIGIBILITY: No previous experience is required. For little girls (aged between six (6) and nine (9) years old) who demonstrate a love for movement/dance/acrobatics, who seem to be afraid of nothing, who have boundless energy and tend to be good in school. The Developmental & Competitive programs are NOT for children who are shy, reserved, apprehensive, tall for their age or not athletically inclined.

If selected, the child's family must be prepared for a long-term commitment to the sport of gymnastics and must be willing to understand the requirements of an elite gymnastics program (varying schedules, eventual travel to competitions, associated costs).

INDIVIDUAL EVALUATIONS: The cost is $ 15.00/child (includes G.S.T.). You can register your child by phone or in person at CHAMPIONS GYMNASTICS. There are no refunds. Payment is accepted over the phone with Visa or MasterCard or in person with credit card, debit, cash or cheque. Each child must wear a long-sleeve or short-sleeve gymnastics bodysuit and have her hair neatly tied back.

EVALUATION FORMAT: Each evaluation lasts approximately ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes in the gym. Parents may be allowed in the gym during testing at the discretion of the evaluator. The gymnast is tested on various physical abilities and basic skills. A verbal report is then made available to the parents. If selected, the child's parents are called to a meeting and the various expectations/requirements for entry into the Developmental/Competitive Programs are explained in detail. Each family can then determine if they wish to sign up or not. In the case where the family decides to not join in, the Coach will offer alternative program options to the child.

The CHAMPIONS GYMNASTICS Developmental Program first requires a minimum commitment of 6 hrs/wk (2 X 3 hours).

GENERAL INFORMATION: As elite female gymnasts progress in their development, the number of training hours always increases. As such, a 10 year old Elite gymnast can train up to 20 hrs/wk (split training, i.e. twice per day) and accomplished high level gymnasts (12-17 years old) can train up to 30 hrs/wk (individual scheduling and split training schedule). Training fee information, schedule and Champions Gymnastics Parents Association information are given at the meeting scheduled for the selected little girls.
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A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE!

SOME OF OUR PAST CHAMPIONS !

MARLEEN LAVOIE- Senior National Team Member; 1995 World Championships, Sabae (Japan) & 1995 Pan-American Games, Mar Del Plata (Argentina) 13th All-Around.; Represented Canada many times internationally. Marleen was coached by Michel Arsenault & Val�rie Oudin from 1987 to early 1997 and is recognized in canadian gymnastics as one of its most artistic gymnast ever.

Marleen started out doing gymnastics at her local club in St-Hubert (Qu�bec) under Marie-Laure Mesnage. As Marleen progressed, and with her coach's blessings, Marleen was directed to Michel and Val�rie in Montr�al, with whom she worked for over 10 years. Marleen was Canadian National Novice Champion on Bars and Beam and became one of very few Canadian gymnasts to win the title of National Champion on Beam as a Novice, Junior and Senior. Marleen was a carded athlete from 1993 to 1996 and National Team member from 1992 to 1996. Marleen was particularly dominant in Compulsory Exercises. Marleen "retired" from competitive gymnastics in early 1997; she now lives north of Montr�al and is the proud mother of three children.

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NATASHA HALLETT- Senior National Team Member; 1992 Canadian Olympic Team, Barcelona (Spain); 1990 Goodwill Games, Seattle (USA); 1988 Pacific Alliance, Chengdu (China); Represented Canada internationally many times between 1988 and 1992. She was coached by Michel Arsenault & Val�rie Oudin from 1985 to 1993.Natasha originated from Fredericton, New Brunswick, where she started her gymnastics career. Along with her mother Beverley, Natasha moved to Montr�al in late 1985 to join Club Flipgym de Montr�al.

Natasha was particularly known for the amazing amplitude of her Tkatchev on uneven Bars (see picture), which Tatiana Gutsu's coach (1992 All-Around Olympic Champion) at that time called "the best I have ever seen" (1991-Hungary).

Natasha had one of the highest level of difficulty in her gymnastics during the 1988-1992 cycle: Double pike dismount off beam; Full-in on floor; Yurchenko-Layout full on vault; Tkatchev and Deltschev and Half-in Half-out on bars.After the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, she retired from gymnastics and went on to join Le Cirque du Soleil (1993). She started out as the "Red Bird" in MYSTERE (Las Vegas, USA), a part she played for many many years. Natasha then moved to Florida to join another show called "La Nouba"; but in early 2007, disaster struck as she suffered a catastrophic fall during a show. After months of therapy and dedication, Natasha was able to make a return to the show. After a few months on stage, she decided to retire from performing.Natasha is married and resides in Orlando, Florida.
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Michel Arsenault- Natasha Hallett- Val�rie Oudin A joyful and emotional reunion in September 2008, after 16 years apart !

AMANDA GERING-Junior National Team Member; 2002 Pacific Alliance Championships; In 2001, Amanda Gering ranked as one of the strongest members of the junior High Performance team, having finished 4th all-around at the Canadian championships. Prior to Nationals, Amanda Gering had taken first place all-around at Burlington's Spring Cup competition. At that competition, she showed world class skills on most events, including: ON BARS: a piked Jaeger, Pak salto, and double front off bars; ON BEAM: a piked front somi mount, a switch side leap to straddle jump-1/2 and a double tuck off beam; ON FLOOR: and a double pike and 2-1/2 twist on floor. Prior to her victory at the Spring Cup, Amanda was no stranger to winning. In July of 2000, she had captured first place in the all-around at the International Children's Games Millenium Festival in Hamilton - in a field containing several of the top Canadian national stream and High Performance junior gymnasts. Amanda had made her debut at the Canadian Championships in 1999, finishing 10th all-around in the National Novice division, and in December of that year, she qualified to the Junior High Performance program at the Elite Canada competition in Montr�al. At the Canadian Championships in May of 2000 (also in Montr�al), Amanda finished 12th after struggling both days on the uneven bars, her strongest event. She ended the year 2000 with a 7th place finish at the Elite Canada competition in Winnipeg - earning the 4th highest all-around score on the second day of competition. In November of 2001, she had her first taste of international competition overseas at the Siska International in Slovenia. Competing as a member of Canada's junior team, she finished 9th in the all-around competition in a field featuring gymnasts from Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, and Russia. Her strong work on the balance beam earned her a spot in the apparatus finals. Less than a month later, Amanda made her Senior debut at the Elite Canada competition in Toronto. There, she finished 16th - a testament to the tremendous depth on the Canadian women's team. In 2002, she also earned her a spot in the senior High Performance program. Amanda finished a career-high 7th All-Around at the 2003 Senior National Championships.Amanda was coached by Michel Arsenault & Val�rie Oudin from 1994 to 2003. Amanda also represented Canada at the 2002 Wild Rose International Invitational and at the 2003 Stella Zacharova Cup in Kiev, Ukraine.

Val�rie- Michel & Amanda in 2001.

The Past, the Present and The Future !
From left to right: Brittany Ekstedt; Amy Callaghan; Miranda Meyer; Shaena Bunce; Tamar Smith; Natasha Hallett; Kristin Klarenbach; Amanda Gering;

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

EXCELLENCE IS NOT AN ACT......IT'S A HABIT !

Let your children know that win or lose, you love them unconditionally ! You are proud of their efforts and are not disappointed with them. You are the people in their lives who always give positive reinforcement. Show them you are pleased that they chose to play sports and accept all the challenges that come with trying to better themselves in training and at meets.

Let them know that you understand how hard it is to constantly put themselves on the line in front of peers and spectators. (Annie Bellerose, 13th AA 1992 Olympic Trials)
Be completely honest about your child's athletic ability, attitude, and sportsmanship.

Remember that you don't know what happens in practice; you can't second-guess the coach's decisions, because you don't have all the information. Let your children live their own lives. Try not to relive your athletic life through your children. You had your time, now it is their turn. Don't pressure them to shine for your own ego. Remember, you made mistakes too!

Coach the attitude, but don't coach the skills. Leave that to the coach. Refrain from the inclination to try to make your child just a little better by giving them tips on the way home from practice, or at dinner, or when they are trying to go to sleep.

Don't compete with the coach. You each have different roles to play in your child's involvement; leave them theirs and work on your own.

Remember the saying: "It takes a village to raise a child." Be glad that you have an excellent adult role model contributing to the upbringing of your child. But remember that they are human too; they will make mistakes.

Never compare the skill, athletic ability or attitudes of your child with other members of the team.

Celebrate your child's special attributes.

Know your child's coach. Because of the special circumstances of a coach-player relationship, the coach has a tremendous potential to influence your child. Be aware of the program and of the coach's philosophy, attitudes, ethics, and knowledge. Always remember that children tend to exaggerate both when praised or when criticized. Allow them time to cool off. Chances are that tomorrow they will have more appropriately evaluated the situation, while you may be just beginning to investigate what may have happened. If the situation warrants following through, investigate quietly instead of overreacting.

Make a point of understanding courage and the fact that it is relative. Some are terrified of talking in public, whereas others are not. Some are afraid of a mouse but not of a bull. Everyone is frightened in certain circumstances. Explain that courage is not the absence of fear, but a means of doing something in spite of fear or discomfort.

Be proud that your child has chosen to participate rather than spectate; to do and not only dream; to risk stumbling and rise to try again. Be supportive and encouraging; congratulate them when they succeed on their own.
Parents who follow this mantra will consider it high praise indeed when, later in life, their children will say, "My parents were always there for me, and were my best support. I couldn't have done it without them. I want to be just like them."

MARLEEN LAVOIE (1994) executing a very difficult Yang Bo jump on balance beam, one of her trademark skills on one of her strongest events.
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TESTIMONIALS

FROM PARENTS AND GYMNASTS

"" Dear Michel & Valerie,
We would like to thank you for the wonderful impact you have had on our daughter's life. Above all, you believed in her and we believe she will go on to achieve great things in life because of character formed and lessons learned through your coaching in gymnastics. Our family believes in what you stand for and will always be grateful that our paths have crossed. All the best and God bless.

Peter & Haley Mrazik ""
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TRAINING CAMP PRE-2004 OLYMPIC TRIALS:
"""Hello Michel and Valerie -

�� WOW�!�You both have gone the extra mile for the girls and coaches !!! This sounds like such an exciting camp and it will be so good for Laura-Ann. I can't thank you enough for your moral and emotional support of LA over the years and I just want to let you know that both Keith and I are counting our blessings that LA has people like yourselves to help her on her journey. No matter what, we know that we have done all that we can to support her. Thanks so much and I'm sure that when LA reads the plan for the 4 days, she will be very happy.
I believe that you and Valerie always have had the interests of the kids at heart."

Karen Chong""" (Laura-Ann Chong's mother)

TRAINING SESSIONS at CHAMPIONS GYMNASTICS DURING 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES:
"""Dear Michel & Valerie,
Thank you for opening your gym & your hearts to Laura-Ann & Kristen. They have learned from you and have enjoyed the experience. It is friends like you who have helped to provide support & encouragement to Laura-Ann. I know that she will take with her the lesssons she has learned with you in her future challenges. All the best to you and your gymnasts.
Karen""""
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""""""
Thank you for everything ! Thank you for training me like one of your own gymnasts and for being so kind to me. These past three weeks have made a world of difference. I hope you enjoyed the last three weeks as I have and I wish you the best of wishes for the future. Hope to see you soon.
Tiffany Tomra (Prince-George Gymnastics Club)"""""
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Hi,
We would just like to say Thank You for allowing Marina to come and train at your club for a couple of days this summer, she enjoyed herself immensely and found everyone, including staff and athletes to be very inviting and helpful. She was made to feel very much at home.

She would love the opportunity to join you again next summer should the opportunity arise. We would most definetly recommend your club to anyone interested in trying some place new.

Thanks again for your hospitality.

Marina, Michelle & Mark Parish ********************************************

""" Hello Michel and Valerie,
Just a quick note to say 'Thank you'. Miranda had more fun than she imagined she would. Being in an atmosphere with so many athletes who feel as she does about the sport of gymnastics has not only renewed her energy but has added a deep determination to reach her ultimate goal. The time she spent with Kate and the other girls is precious to her and will always be remembered. I thank both you and Valerie for giving Miranda the opportunity to see high performance athletes up close.
Please continue doing what you are doing as it is advantageous to all young gymnasts who have dreams and goals. Miranda looks up to both of you and your support of her has helped her in more ways than I can explain. again, I say 'Thank you'.

Jodi Jang-Meyer """
(Mother of Miranda Meyer)
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FROM OTHER GYMNASTICS COACHES

TO: THE ALBERTA GYMNASTICS FEDERATION

�� """ I just wanted to drop you a quick note to tell you about a great event I attended this past weekend in Edmonton and to congratulate the hosts on a job well done. Michel Arsenault and wife Valerie Oudin held a coach/athlete clinic for Kate Richardson (Abbotsford Twisters). It was a privilege to attend this event and participate over the four days. Two Ontario clubs (Ottawa Gym Club [Heather Purnell and Melanie Banville] & ASF [Marci Bernholtz]) took advantage of this opportunity to train together with Kate Richardson and Laura-Ann Chong in preparation for the 2nd Olympic Trials.

�� What a great atmosphere to train in and to learn in. The girls were provided with expert technical help (David Kenwright, Michel and Valerie) and more often than not we came together as group to help solve the various problems facing each of the athletes.

�� I strongly urge your P.O., G.C.G., and the rest of the P.O.'s to look at this type of event and support it in the future. It does not have to necessarily be a high performance clinic as the point of the clinic is to share and learn and help and solve and participate.

�� Valerie and Michel were incredible hosts. They were so accomodating and nothing was too much. My appreciation and sincere congratulations goes out to them and their organization, CHAMPIONS GYMNASTICS, for running such a successful event.

Sincerely,

Tobie E. Gorman
Head Coach Ottawa Gym Club & 2004 Canadian Olympic Team Coach, Athens """
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""""Michel, I have to emphasize the effect you've had on my coaching. I've benefited immensely from working with you, and I greatly look forward to continued contact to further my own coaching knowledge. I consider myself an apprentice in many regards and consider myself fortunate to have mentors such as yourself that exemplify what pursuing this artform is all about.

Mark Friesen (Prince-George Gymnastics Club, PG, BC)"""""""
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From the ALBERTA GYMNASTICS FEDERATION

As part of its application to be named a G.C.G. Club of Excellence, the Provincial Gymnastics Federation is required to write a letter in support of the applicant. This is a copy of the letter sent by the Alberta Gymnastics Federation to Gymnastics Canada. ********************************************

DOWNLOAD LETTER HERE!